The unveiling part 2

Vanessa POV

"Hey Jessica" I walked into the building.
"Hey boo" I took my ID out and swiped it and it went red. Making Jessica and I both confused.

I swiped again. Same thing. "Maybe somethings wrong with the ID" I said inspecting my ID.

The security guard was not moving one bit. "I'll speak with Mr. Anderson about it" I attempted to go forward but the security stood in my way.

"I work here and you know this" I said sternly.

"You're not allowed to enter the building without a functional working pass" he said making me roll my eyes.

"You know me" I argued but he didn't budge. I got my phone out and called the office upstairs.

"This is Penelope speaking"

"Hey Penelope, can you get Mr. Anderson on the line. My ID isn't working and they won't let me up"

There was a pause before she answered "please hold"

Other people started coming in and swiping and I used that as my opportunity to slip past security.

"Mr. Anderson is currently unavailable, would you like me to take a message?"

"Nope, I'm coming up right now" this whole situation irritated me. He knows I work here.

With the elevator door closing I see the security looking for me until he seen me "hey!"

It's too late because it closed and went up to the 18th floor.

The elevator doors opened and I greeted everyone along the way and they were all looking at me confused.

What the heck is going on with everybody?
I go to my office and I find another person in my chair.

A guy to be specific.

"Hello, how can I be of assistance?"

"You're sitting in my chair, in my office. You can assist me by getting out"

"Oh you must be Vanessa" he got up and stuck his hand out for a handshake which I refused to give him.

"My name is Brandon and I now work as Mr. Anderson Jr's PA" his words hit me like a flood.

What? When did he..? Trying to process everything.

"I'm Mr. Andersons PA and this.." I pointed around the office "is my office"

"I'm sorry, I know this might be difficult to understand but I did send an email out concerning your new location and placement" he said. New location? New placement?

What the hell was this man talking about?

He searched his email and turned his computer my way.

I read the email

Hello Miss Kelly,

"It is with pleasure that I am to announce that you will now be placed with Mr. Anderson as his second PA in the Financial district.."

I only read the first part and it was enough to make me really angry. He cc'd Zach and his father too, the company logo and everything by was there.

This was legit. My legs carried me at a fast pace straight to Zach's door.

"Vanessa!" I hear Penelope yell. I'm so angry that I don't care if he's unavailable.
Without warning I opened the door to see him on his computer.

"Are you serious right now?!" I yelled and shut the door. His gaze came off the computer and unto me.

He wasn't looking at me like before. I couldn't find emotion in there.

"How can I be of service to you Miss Kelly?"

"Miss Kelly? Zach what is going on?  Why am I now finding out that you placed me at your father's branch?"

"Do you not like that I placed you there? It was either that or I fired you" I gasped.

"What?- Zach-"

"Mr. Anderson" he corrected me.

"Is this about the kiss Zach?" He stood up.

"You kissed me back Zach-"

"Alright Miss Kelly if there's nothing further, my father should be on his way to work and you should definitely be there before him" he cut me off.

I frown and I could feel the water fill my eyes.

"Zach please don't do this to me" I went closer to him.

"Please don't do this to me" as I stretch my hand to touch him his grab my hands to stop me.

"Vanessa, this is was a mistake from the jump. I have never needed a PA. This was all my fathers idea"

I shook my head "but you still got me replaced"

"I did. This isn't going to work. I made a huge mistake with you and you need to get out" making my heart break at the sound of him saying that.

"Zach don't say that" I cried coming closer to him.

"You felt it too" I argued "you felt it too!"

I was able to get my hands around him without him fighting me off.

"I am happily married Vanessa" he sighed before pulling my hands away.

"For how long?"

"How long will it take before she goes off again and leave you and Amira?" I said annoyed.

"That's none of your business"

"This conversation is over and I need to get back to work"

I went to hug him again "Zach please don't do this to me"

He wouldn't let me touch him, he just kept pushing my hands away. "Vanessa stop" he said sternly. I ignored him. As soon as I saw the opportunity to kiss him I took it.

Then the door slammed opened...

Nichelle POV

I was obviously angry and my baby could tell so I stopped to get her some of her favorite snacks. I got her ice cream and some cookies.

I know she's spoiled but I like it like that. So long as she doesn't ever get disrespectful and she stays sweet, we're good.

"Be good baby" she kissed me on the cheek. "Bye momma"

"Momma's not gonna take long okay?" She nodded before going to Chantel. "I'll be back soon"

I pull out her driveway and made my way to Zachary's job.

I hadn't feel this kind of anger since the gala after graduation.

You ever been so angry that your body is trembling. My hands are itching to hurt someone.
I might catch a case today. It could either be for speeding or for assault.

I finally made it there in under 20 minutes. I was so angry front desk didn't even bother say anything, poor baby was cowering behind the desk.

I nodded at the security and made my way up to the 18th. I had the magazine and the picture in my hands.

The elevator doors opened and by the look on my face, it's like everyone in the office paused in fear. I saw Zach's dad and his mother on the side talking with Penelope.

"Nichelle, everything okay?" He asked concerned.
"I'll get back to you on that" I said sternly.

I walked straight to Zach's door and opened it.

I dropped everything in my hand.

For a second,  it felt like time stopped. They both pulled away from the kiss and were frozen in shock staring at me.

"So it is true" was the only thing I could muster up to say.

The immediate flashback of me and Jason's failed relationship came back up to haunt me.

I stood there paralyzed in anger because if I move right now, I might kill somebody. Zach pushed her away like she was a disease.

"Nichelle" he cautiously came forward "it's not what you think it is" I remained still.

Ofcourse he would say that.

"Baby-"

"No Zachary, tell her the truth" she had the audacity to say.

She didn't know that baby was saving her from a beat down.

"He had an affair" she said making Zach look at her crazy.

"No we didn't! You kissed me"

"And you kissed me back! Don't play the victim here" she argued and he didn't say nothing so that alone told me that that part was the truth.

"Nichelle, I'm sorry" he apologized. Tears were running down my eyes but my face was still that of angry woman.

"Don't be Zach, you deserve better" on instinct my hand raised to slap her but Zach caught "she's pregnant Nichelle" Zach knew I could kill her right now and it would be by accident. Somebody needed to shut her ass up.

He was scared, I pulled my hand out of his grasp and before he could say anything else I enclosed my fist and punched him square in the mouth.

"Zach!" She yelled. "What is wrong with you?" She yelled at me.

"Shut up Vanessa" Zach warned her.

"Zac-"

"Shut up!"

I turned away because after I hit him once, I felt the need to continually hit him.  "Nichelle!" he yelled from behind me. Anger was coursing through my body.

Making his father and mother look at him from behind me. "What have you done?!" His mother yelled. Then she smirked "oh you meet his new girl"

"He finally met someone in his class" I look at Mr. Anderson Sr.

I stood here watching her for a second and then I slapped her so hard that my hand was on fire. It was like you could hear a pin drop.

"You bi-"

"Maira!" Mr. Anderson warned her sternly.

This was long overdue.

"Nichelle-" I raised my hand to stop him.

"I thought that I could trust you and him but it's clear that I can't trust none of you" I said disappointedly.

"I don't want to hear from this entire family again" I warned him. He frowned but I was very serious.

I felt betrayed by the family I married into. I had no support from any of them. I trusted them with my child and they all betrayed me.

I sob desperately in the elevator and fell to my knees. The elevator made it to the lobby and I got up started making my way out.

I kept my head down to avoid contact and that's when I bumped into someone.

"Nichelle?" Mr. Avery said. I see him and now he was like the only father figure I had.

I did what I desperately needed to do in that moment. I hugged him and I sobbed.

"Come on, let's get out of here, this is no place to break down" I hid my face in his side and walked with him out of the building.

We went to his car "how about I have someone pick up your car and bring it over to your place?" I nodded. I gave him the keys. We entered the SUV.

He didn't ask me no questions. Which I liked, he just let me cry.

I gave him specific instructions and I called Esperanza and told her to pack my things and Amira's own too.

"Where are you going to stay?" I looked out the window.

"A hotel until I can find a house somewhere or a condo"

"I think maybe you need to think this through" he suggested "no there's no more thinking this through Mr. Avery"

"Okay, well how about you stay at my condo. Nobody stays there, it's heavily guarded, there's a pool there for Amira"

I look at him unsure "it's right next to my mansion"

"I usually reserve it as a guest house for when I have elite members coming to visit"

"I just want to make sure you're protected and Amira as well"

"I don't know Mr. Avery, I don't want no problems with your wife"

"Don't be silly, I am a single father" I nodded.

"Why are you helping me?"
He shrugged "something about you stands out to me. You're a pure soul and I feel the need to help protect that in you"

I've always craved a father figure but this felt more authentic and real than my stepdad. I nodded.
"Okay"

As soon as we made it to my house, Esperanza was waiting by the door with all my things and Amira's own. Mr. Avery helped me take them down.

"Thank you Mr. Avery"

"It's no problem"

"Mrs. Anderson is everything okay?" She asked worried. I shook my head "we're gonna be gone for some time okay? Thank you for always taking care of my family. I really appreciate you"

"But Mrs Anderson-"

"Esperanza I have to go" I rushed out. I needed to go pick up Amira.

On the way there I just couldn't help but remember the look on their faces. His mother too. I felt mocked & humiliated.

I felt my phone vibrating and I didn't realize but I had dozens of missed calls from both Zach and his father.

Mr. Avery on the other hand was talking to whomever on the phone about preparing the condo for us. He was very stern and by that I just knew that he doesn't play.

Refusing to answer, I let them all go to voicemail. We pulled up at Chantel's and by the look on my face all she could do was frown.

"Call me when you get home" I just nodded and grabbed Amira's hand.

"Mommy, who's that?" She pointed at the SUV.
Through all this pain I smiled "how about you go find out silly?" She ran to the car and the gentleman opened the door.

"Mr. Avery!" She yelled as she entered in with me following right behind her. She immediately gave him a hug.

"Hey pretty girl!"

"How you doing?" She smiled and sat back down. "I'm good"

"Just good? I think I got something that can make you feel great!" Her eyes widen "really? What's that?"

He pulled a donut out. I mentally facepalm. She is spoiled.

"Ou! Thank you Mr. Avery!" She took it from him and bit into it.

"Hmmm, this one's my favorite" she said with her mouth full making me give her a stern look.

"Sorry" she mumbled. Mr. Avery chuckled "it's okay, I remember you said you like that one so I made sure save it for you"

That's sweet. We hadn't gone to that shop in a minute so the fact that he remembered that was sweet.

We finally reached to his place after 30 minutes of driving and he was absolutely right. This mansion was heavily guarded with gates surrounding everything he owned.

You would swear I was pulling up to bill gates house.

"Oh wow, where are we?" Amira asked.

"We are at Mr. Avery's house"

"You have a nice house Mr. Avery" she complimented him.

"Thank you dear"

He fixed his tie "since I heard a princess was visiting my castle I had to make sure she had the best suit ever"

I looked at him. Lord, What did he do?

**

Amira's high pitched scream broke me out of my shock.

"Mr. Avery you didn't have to do all of this"

"Oh my goodness! I'm a princess!" She yelled jumping on the bed.

"Yea but look at how happy she is" he said eyes glued on her jumping on the bed.

He turned to me with a look of concern but yet offering comfort. "If you need anything, you let me know"

"You can stay as long as you need to, and if you need help finding a place to stay I can help you there too. " I nodded and he smiled.

"I know some people"

"Thank you for everything Mr. Avery, if there's anything I can do for you to rep-"

"No no, don't say that. It's okay. I've never had the opportunity to care for someone other than my parents and myself."

"It is an honor to have you stay here" he said seriously and I believe him.

"Thank you"

I couldn't shake this feeling I had of him. It was like such a fatherly everything about this man with the way he spoke to me and the way he cares for us.

I don't know I couldn't shake it.

We spent the rest of the day unpacking and settling in. Of course Amira had a ton of questions which some I answered and some ... well I ignored.

Amira burnt herself out and knocked out quickly on her bed.

I took this as my opportunity to take a shower and to cry my eyes out.

I felt so embarrassed, humiliated, mocked, stupid and the list goes on.

How could this even happen? Was it my fault?
Did I push him away?
Yeah I've been into work but at least I'm working and not fooling around with someone else.

Yes Xavier's death impacted me greatly. That baby suppose to be the one that continues the Anderson line and I couldn't save him.

I feel like I disappointed Zach. We wanted a son and we lost him before he even got the chance to see daylight.

I came out of the shower and calmed myself down. I had a headache from all my crying.

I needed to sleep this day off.
Suddenly, I heard some commotion going on outside and I went to people out the window.

To nobody's surprise...

It was Zachary.